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She was also kept under 24/7 surveillance as her ex-husband set up a network of cameras at the family home in Stroud to watch her every move, put a tracker on her car, phoned her at work constantly and would not even let her go out for a coffee with her sister without him being able to listen in.

Elizabeth Watkins.

Now, she's rediscovered her sense of worth and is helping others to come forward by working with Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and by bravely waiving her anonymity to speak to Gloucestershire Live about her experiences.

Her advice for women in a similar position? Tell someone.

She said: "Tell somebody, whether it's a national helpline or someone close that you can trust. Don't struggle on your own and don't feel guilty or responsible for what's happening to you - it's not your fault.

"You are not responsible for his behaviour - you are worth far more than that. You deserve the chance to be free and happy."

Elizabeth met her ex-husband when she was just 15-years-old and they were married by the time she was 22.

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She said: "As a victim you always feel responsible. You're thinking 'maybe I should try this, maybe I'm not pleasing him.' When you're emotionally invested in that person it makes it even more difficult.

"We're talking about the early 80s when it all started - it was a different world. People just got on with it - domestic abuse was not talked about.

"It was almost like it was normal. I just assumed every relationship was like that. Over time as it got more violent I thought that it was my fault because I was not being the person he wanted."

From the outside looking in, they seemed like the perfect family. Elizabeth still says he was an amazing dad, hard worker and family man.

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He then made several attempts on his own life before finally succeeding in 2006. Elizabeth said this was not due to any mental illness - it was him attempting to put the blame onto her.

When the relationship ended, Elizabeth had no idea who she really was.

She had to go through rounds of reconstructive surgery following his abuse - but it was the psychological element that had its greatest toll.

It was only in 2013 - when her two sons had grown into adults - that she finally sought help through Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.

She received face-to-face home support from GRASAC, and she was also signposted to Hope House in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for psychosexual therapy and counselling - which has helped her to rediscover who she is and form a happy marriage with her current husband.

"It took time after he died," she said. "I didn't know who I was all my adult life up to that point. I had to find out what I liked to wear and eat, what I liked to watch on TV, what songs I liked. He had total control over my personality."

Elizabeth Watkins at the Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.

She's now hoping to help other women in a similar position to her. She has also spoken to the BBC about her experiences and a Channel 5 documentary to raise awareness of domestic abuse and how victims can get help.

"It's about building your confidence and valuing yourself, loving yourself and looking after yourself," she said.

"It's something that takes a long time. Having that psychosexual counselling available is amazing. Everyone wants to be a healthy, normal human being and without that you will never be."

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GRASAC helps 1,000 women a year in the county who have been through similar experiences with their helpline - staffed by fully-trained volunteers - and five full-time counsellers.

And demand is only getting greater - according to Rape Crisis around 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales alone every year; that's roughly 11 rapes of adults alone every hour.

Louise Williams, service director at GRASAC, praised Elizabeth for sharing her story.

She said: "It's really inspiring - when you hear Elizabeth's story it's totally incredible she's now in a position where she can share her story so confidently and to hear of her recovery to live a life that's joyful.